argali

American  

[ahr-guh-lee] / ˈɑr gə li /

noun

plural

argali

1. a wild sheep, Ovis ammon, of Asia, having long, curved horns that typically form an open, outwardly extended spiral: rare or endangered.

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argali British  

/ ˈɑːɡəlɪ /

noun

1. a wild sheep, Ovis ammon, inhabiting semidesert regions in central Asia: family Bovidae, order Artiodactyla. It is the largest of the sheep, having massive horns in the male, which may almost form a circle

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Etymology

Origin of argali

First recorded in 1770–80; from Mongolian: “female mountain sheep”

Example Sentences

This ultimately resulted in one Marco Polo argali male, a species that can reach 300 pounds, and which does not belong in Montana.

From Slate • Mar. 16, 2024

Male argali sheep can top 300 pounds with horns up to 5 feet long, making them prized among some hunters.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 13, 2024

Although people in the region have long been classified as herders, Dr. Taylor’s team discovered an icy killing ground of argali sheep, along with the spears and arrows used to slay them.

From New York Times • Nov. 2, 2021

Nine stuffed animal heads -- argali sheep, wild boar, antelope, brown bear -- grace one wall in the foyer.

From Washington Post • Sep. 22, 2010

The bighorn is extremely like the Asiatic argali, and was for a long time regarded as identical with the latter; but this was an error.

From Quadrupeds, What They Are and Where Found A Book of Zoology for Boys by Harvey, William